Mantis

 

This pale praying mantis was sitting on my green trash can today, making a faint reflection, possibly checking its pink highlights. It was about three inches long and in the exact spot I was about to grab to lift the lid.

This one, seen a few weeks ago, making it into my blog then, was a little longer than the one above. It was on a storm door of my house, in front of the glass and just below a handle I was about to use.

Although I may have made surprised noises in both cases, I was happy to see them. I can't think of another three-inch long plus insect I feel that way about.

Still -- seems like only yesterday they were so small I could have fit a hundred of them in the palm of my hand. Click to enlarge.